View source for Aare

{{Short description|River in Switzerland}}
{{About|a river in Switzerland|other uses|Aare (given name)|and|Aare (surname)|and| Aar (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox river
| name                = Aare
| other_name          = Aar
| image               = Bern Untertorbrücke 05.jpg
| image_caption       = The Aare at [[Bern]]
| pushpin_map        = Switzerland
| pushpin_map_size   =
| pushpin_map_caption= Mouth
| pushpin_map_alt    =
| subdivision_type1   = Country
| subdivision_name1   = [[Switzerland]]
| subdivision_type2   = Cantons
| subdivision_name2   = [[Canton of Bern|Bern]], [[Canton of Solothurn|Solothurn]], [[Canton of Aargau|Aargau]]
| subdivision_type3   = Settlements
| subdivision_name3   = [[Meiringen]] (BE), [[Interlaken]] (BE), [[Thun]] (BE), [[Münsingen]], [[Muri bei Bern]], [[Bern]], [[Bremgarten bei Bern]], [[Aarberg]] (BE), [[Büren an der Aare|Büren a.A.]] (BE), [[Solothurn]] (SO), [[Aarwangen]] (BE), [[Aarburg]] (BE), [[Olten]] (SO), [[Niedergösgen]] (SO), [[Schönenwerd]] (SO), [[Aarau]] (AG), [[Möriken-Wildegg|Wildegg]] (AG), [[Brugg]] (AG), [[Windisch, Switzerland|Windisch]] (AG), [[Döttingen, Aargau|Döttingen]] (AG), [[Klingnau]] (AG)
| source1_location    = [[Unteraar Glacier]], [[Bernese Oberland]]
| source1_coordinates = {{coord|46.56858|8.18774|region:CH-BE|format=dms}}
| mouth_location      = [[Rhine]] below [[Koblenz, Switzerland]]
| mouth_coordinates   = {{coord|47.6057|8.2234|display=it|region:CH_type:river}}
| map                 = Aare basin simple.png
| map_caption         = Drainage basin of the Aare
| length              = {{convert|291.5|km}} {{GeoQuelle|CH|GS}}
| source1_elevation   = {{convert|1940|m|abbr=on}}
| mouth_elevation     = {{convert|311|m|abbr=on}}
| discharge1_location = Untersiggenthal
| discharge1_min      = {{convert|351|m3/s|abbr=on}} (MNQ 1935-2013),<br />{{convert|138|m3/s|abbr=on}} (NNQ, 1963)
| discharge1_avg      = {{convert|559|m3/s|abbr=on}} (MQ 1935-2013)
| discharge1_max      = {{convert|735|m3/s|abbr=on}} (MHQ 1935-2013),<br />{{convert|2656|m3/s|abbr=on}} (HHQ, 2007)
| progression         = {{RRhine}}
| tributaries_left    = [[Lütschine]] (Lake Brienz), [[Kander (Switzerland)|Kander]] (Lake Thun), [[Gürbe]], [[Saane/Sarine|Saane/La Sarine]], [[Zihl|Zihl/La Thielle]] (Lakes of Neuchatel and Bienne), [[Suze (river)|La Suze]] (Lake of Bienne), Dünnern
| tributaries_right   = [[Gadmerwasser]], Zulg, [[Emme (river)|Emme]], [[Murg (Aare)|Murg]], [[Wigger (river)|Wigger]], [[Suhre]], [[Aabach (Seetal)|Aabach]], [[Reuss (river)|Reuss]], [[Limmat]], [[Surb]]
| waterbodies         = [[Oberaarsee]], [[Grimselsee]], [[Räterichsbodensee]], [[Lake Brienz]], [[Lake Thun]], [[Wohlensee]], [[Lake Biel]], [[Stausee Niederried]], [[Klingnauer Stausee]]
| basin_size          = {{convert|17779|km2|abbr=on}}
| extra               = {{Infobox mapframe |wikidata=yes |zoom=7 |height=250 | stroke-width=1.5 |coord {{WikidataCoord|display=i}}}}
}}
The '''Aare''' ({{IPA|de-CH|ˈaːrɛ|lang|De-Aare2.ogg}}) or '''Aar''' ({{IPA|de-CH|aːr|lang|De-Aar2.ogg}}) is the main [[tributary]] of the [[High Rhine]] (its [[Discharge (hydrology)|discharge]] even exceeds that of the latter at their [[confluence]])<ref>{{cite web |title=High Rhine |publisher=ICPR – International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine |url=https://www.iksr.org/en/topics/rhine/sub-basins/high-rhine |access-date=2024-06-15}}</ref> and the longest [[river]] that both rises and ends entirely within [[Switzerland]].<ref name=CVDE>{{harvnb|Bridgwater|Aldrich|1968|p=11}}</ref><ref name=GH/>
Its total length from its source to its junction with the [[Rhine]] comprises about {{convert|295|km}},<ref name=CVDE /><ref name="eb"/> during which distance it descends {{convert|1565|m|abbr=on}}, draining an area of {{convert|17779|km2|abbr=on}}, almost entirely within Switzerland, and accounting for close to half the area of the country, including all of [[Central Switzerland]].<ref name="eb">{{harvnb|Hoiberg|2010|p=4}}</ref>
There are more than 40 [[hydroelectric plant]]s along the course of the Aare.<ref name=cohen/>
The [[hydronymy|river's name]] dates to at least the [[La Tène period]], and it is attested as ''Nantaror'' "Aare valley" in the [[Berne zinc tablet]].
The name was Latinized as ''Arula''/''Arola''/''Araris''.<ref>{{harvnb|Kristol|Cattin|Meroni|Schmid|2005|p=73}}</ref>{{refn| group = nb |The river ''[[Obringa]]'', mentioned by [[Ptolemy]] (2.7.9) as a tributary of the Rhine, has been identified with either the [[Moselle (river)|Mosel]] or the Aare.<ref>{{harvnb|Forbiger|1848|p=126f}}</ref>}}
==Course==
[[File:Aletschgebiet aus dem Flugzeug.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Unteraargletscher]]]]
[[File:Ausgang Aareschlucht.jpg|thumb|The Aare at [[Innertkirchen]]]]
[[File:Aareschlucht 166 7.jpg|thumb|Inside the Aare Gorge]]
The Aare rises in the great [[Aargletschers]] (Aare Glaciers) of the [[Bernese Alps]], in the [[canton of Bern]] and west of the [[Grimsel Pass]].<ref name="CVDE"/> The [[Finsteraarhorn|Finsteraargletscher]] and [[Lauteraarhorn|Lauteraargletscher]] come together to form the [[Unteraargletscher]] (Lower Aar Glacier), which is the main source of water for the [[Grimselsee]] (Lake of Grimsel).<ref name=GH>{{harvnb|Gresswell|Huxley|1965|p=27}}</ref><ref name=cohen>{{harvnb|Cohen|1998|p=1}}</ref> The [[Oberaargletscher]] (Upper Aar Glacier) feeds the [[Oberaarsee]], which also flows into the Grimselsee.<ref name=GH/> The Aare leaves the Grimselsee just to the east to the Grimsel Hospiz, below the [[Grimsel Pass]], and then flows northwest through the [[Haslital]], forming on the way the magnificent Handegg Waterfall, {{convert|46|m|ft|abbr=on}}, past [[Guttannen]].
Right after [[Innertkirchen]] it is joined by its first major tributary, the Gamderwasser. Less than {{convert|1|km}} later the river carves through a [[limestone]] ridge in the [[Aare Gorge]] ({{langx|de|Aareschlucht}}).<ref name=CVDE /> It is here that the Aare proves itself to be more than just a river, as it attracts thousands of tourists annually to the causeways through the gorge.<ref name=GH/> A little past [[Meiringen]], near [[Brienz]], the river expands into [[Lake Brienz]]. Near the west end of the lake it indirectly receives its first important [[tributary]], the [[Lütschine]], by the Lake of Brienz. It then runs across the swampy plain of the Bödeli (Swiss German diminutive for ground) between [[Interlaken]] and [[Unterseen]] before flowing into [[Lake Thun]].<ref name=CVDE />
Near the west end of Lake Thun, the river indirectly receives the waters of the [[Kander (Switzerland)|Kander]], which has just been joined by the [[Simme]], by the Lake of Thun. Lake Thun marks the [[head of navigation]].<ref name=cohen/> On flowing out of the lake it passes through [[Thun]], and then flows through the city of [[Bern]], passing beneath [[List of Aare bridges in Bern|eighteen bridges]] and around the steeply-flanked peninsula on which the [[Old City (Bern)|Old City]] is located. To the south of the Old City peninsula is the {{ill|Mattenschwelle|de}}, a [[weir]] which provides water for the small Matte [[hydroelectric power plant]]. [[Open water swimming|River swimming]] in the Aare is popular in Bern, and the river is sometimes full of bathers on summer days. The river soon changes its northwesterly flow for a due westerly direction, but after receiving the [[Saane/Sarine|Saane or La Sarine]] it turns north until it nears [[Aarberg]]. There, in one of the major Swiss engineering feats of the 19th century, the [[Jura water correction]], the river, which had previously rendered the countryside north of Bern a [[swampland]] through frequent flooding, was diverted by the Aare-Hagneck Canal into the [[Lac de Bienne]]. From the upper end of the lake, at [[Nidau]], the river issues through the [[Nidau-Büren Canal]], also called the Aare Canal,<ref name=GH/> and then runs east to [[Büren, Solothurn|Büren]]. The lake absorbs huge amounts of eroded gravel and snowmelt that the river brings from the Alps, and the former swamps have become fruitful plains: they are known as the "vegetable garden of Switzerland".
From here the Aare flows northeast for a long distance, past the ambassador town [[Solothurn]]<ref name=CVDE /> (below which the Grosse [[Emme (river)|Emme]] flows in on the right), [[Aarburg]] (where it is joined by the [[Wigger (river)|Wigger]]), [[Olten]], [[Aarau]],<ref name=CVDE /> near which is the junction with the [[Suhre]], and Wildegg, where the Seetal [[Aabach (Seetal)|Aabach]] falls in on the right. A short distance further, below [[Brugg]], it receives first the [[Reuss (river)|Reuss]], its major tributary, and shortly afterwards the [[Limmat]], its second strongest tributary. It now turns due north, and soon becomes itself a tributary of the [[Rhine]], which it even surpasses in volume when the two rivers unite downstream from [[Koblenz, Switzerland|Koblenz (Switzerland)]], opposite [[Waldshut-Tiengen|Waldshut]] in Germany. The Rhine, in turn, empties into the [[North Sea]] after crossing into the [[Netherlands]].
== Tributaries ==
[[File:Bern 2.jpg|thumb|Aare in [[Bern]]]]
[[File:Gedeckte Holzbrücke in Wangen a. d. Aare.jpg|thumb|Old bridge at Wangen an der Aare]]
[[File:Aare - Limmat (Limmatspitz) IMG 6765.jpg|thumb|At the "Wasserschloss", where the rivers Aare, Reuss and Limmat flow together]]
[[File:London2007zurich img 5743.jpg|thumb|The convergence of the Aare and the Rhine at Koblenz]]
*[[Limmat]] (after and northeast of [[Brugg]], and northwest of [[Baden, Switzerland|Baden]])
**[[Reppisch]]
**[[Sihl]]
***[[Alp (river)|Alp]]
***[[Minster (river)|Minster]]
**[[Lake Zurich]]
***[[Jona (river)|Jona]]
***[[Wägitalersee|Wägitaler Aa]]
***Linthkanal
****[[Lake Walen]]
*****[[Linth]]
******Löntsch
******[[Sernf]]
******Flätschbach
*****[[Seez (river)|Seez]]
*****[[Seerenbach Falls|Seerenbach]]
*[[Reuss (river)|Reuss]] (after and northeast of [[Brugg]], and northwest of Baden)
**[[Lorze]]
**[[Kleine Emme]]
**[[Lake Lucerne]]
***[[Sarner Aa]]
***[[Engelberger Aa]]
***[[Muota (river)|Muota]]
**[[Schächen]]
**[[Chärstelenbach]]
**Göschener Reuss
*[[Aabach (Seetal)|Aabach]] (coming from Seetal, in [[Möriken-Wildegg|Wildegg]])
**Bünz
*[[Suhre]] (after and north of [[Aarau]])
**[[Wyna (river)|Wyna]]
*Aabach (from the left in Aarau)
*Stegbach
*Dünnern (in [[Olten]])
*[[Wigger (river)|Wigger]] (right before [[Aarburg]])
*[[Murg (Aare)|Murg]] (before, west of [[Murgenthal]])
**Rot ([[Roggwil, Bern|Roggwil]])
**Langete ([[Langenthal]])
***Ursenbach (Kleindietwil)
***Rotbach ([[Huttwil]])
*[[Emme (river)|(Grosse) Emme]] (after, east of [[Solothurn]])
*[[Lake of Bienne]]
**[[Suze (river)|La Suze]] (in [[Biel/Bienne]], right next to the outflow)
**[[Zihlkanal]]
***[[Lake of Neuchatel]]
****[[Broye|La Broye]] (flows through [[Lake Morat]])
****[[Zihl|Zihl/La Thielle]]
*****[[Orbe (river)|L'Orbe]]
*****Le Talent
*[[Saane/Sarine|Saane/La Sarine]] (after, west of Wohlensee)
**[[Sense (river)|Sense]]
*[[Gürbe]] (in [[Muri bei Bern]])
*Zulg (west of [[Steffisburg]])
*[[Lake Thun]]
**[[Kander (Switzerland)|Kander]] (west of [[Spiez]])
***[[Simme]]
***Entschlige
*[[Lake Brienz]]
**[[Lütschine]] (at the end of Lake Brienz, right next to the outflow)
*[[Gadmerwasser]] (right after, northwest of [[Innertkirchen]])
==Reservoirs==
* [[Lake Grimsel]],<ref name=a1>{{harvnb|Anon|1973|p=74}}</ref> {{convert|1908|m|ft}}
* [[Lake Brienz]],<ref name=a1/> {{convert|564|m|ft}}<ref name=GH1>{{harvnb|Gresswell|Huxley|1965|p=272}}</ref>
* [[Lake Thun]],<ref name=a1/> {{convert|558|m|ft}}<ref name=GH1/>
* [[Lake Wohlen]],<ref name=a2>{{harvnb|Anon|1973|p=70}}</ref> {{convert|481|m|ft}}
* [[Niederriedsee]],<ref name=a2/> {{convert|461|m|ft}}
* [[Lake Biel]],<ref name=a2/> {{convert|429|m|ft}}
* [[Klingnauer Stausee]], {{convert|318|m|ft}}
== Incidents ==
On May 26, 2022, Indonesia [[West Java]] Governor [[Ridwan Kamil]]'s eldest child, Emmeril Kahn Mumtadz,<ref name=":kompas">{{Cite web |title=Family Declares Indonesian Governor’s Son Who Drowned in Swiss River Dead |url=https://go.kompas.com/read/2022/06/03/152705874/family-declares-indonesian-governors-son-who-drowned-in-swiss-river-dead}}</ref> was declared missing after being swept away by the river current. Chronologically, Eril was swimming in the river with his sister and friends.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-06-13 |title=Indonesians mourn governor's son found dead in Swiss river |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/indonesians-mourn-governors-son-found-dead-in-swiss-river |access-date=2024-08-30 |work=The Straits Times |language=en |issn=0585-3923}}</ref> When he wanted to rise to the surface, Eril was dragged by a fairly swift current of the river which had previously received help from his friend.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ridwan Kamil's Eldest Son Is Missing in Switzerland |url=https://jakartaglobe.id/news/ridwan-kamils-eldest-son-is-missing-in-switzerland}}</ref> The search efforts involving the police search and rescue team, maritime police, fire department, and authority of the city of Bern.<ref name=":kompas" /> One week after declared missing, Emmeril Kahn Mumtadz was declared [[Presumption of death|dead ''in absentia'']] at the age of 22.<ref>{{Cite web |last=antaranews.com |date=2022-06-09 |title=Progress in search for governor's son, presumed drowned in Aare River |url=https://en.antaranews.com/news/233377/progress-in-search-for-governors-son-presumed-drowned-in-aare-river |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=Antara News |language=en}}</ref> Although on June 9, 2022, Eril's body was located.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Arkyasa |first=Mahinda |date=2022-06-09 |title=Ridwan Kamil's Son Found Dead in Aare River |url=https://en.tempo.co/read/1600228/ridwan-kamils-son-found-dead-in-aare-river |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=Tempo |language=en}}</ref> The funeral procession of Emmeril “Eril” Kahn Mumtadz took place in the family's burial ground located in Cimaung, Bandung regency, West Java.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ridwan Kamil’s drowned son laid to rest as Bandung mourns - Tue, June 14, 2022 |url=https://www.thejakartapost.com/paper/2022/06/13/ridwan-kamils-drowned-son-laid-to-rest-as-bandung-mourns.html |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=The Jakarta Post |language=en}}</ref> Soon after news about Eril's body brought back to his home, Indonesian netizens [[review bomb]]ed Aare River's Google listing, leaving negative comments and one-star ratings as if the waterway was fully to blame for the tragedy.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Indonesians review bomb Swiss river where governor’s son went missing |url=https://coconuts.co/jakarta/news/indonesians-review-bomb-swiss-river-where-governors-son-went-missing/ |access-date=2024-08-30 |website= |language=en-US}}</ref>
==See also==
* [[Rivers of Switzerland]]
==Notes==
{{reflist|group=nb}}
==Footnotes==
{{Reflist}}
==References==
* {{cite book | author = Anon | year = 1973 | title = Atlas Routier et Touristique | language = French | publisher = Bordas-Tirade | location = Paris, France }}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor1-last = Bridgwater | editor1-first = W.| editor2-last = Aldrich | editor2-first = Beatrice | encyclopedia = The Columbia-Viking Desk Encyclopedia | title = Aare | publisher = Columbia University Press | location = New York, NY | year = 1968 | isbn = 978-0670230709 | edition = 3rd }}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor-last = Cohen | editor-first = Saul B. | encyclopedia = The Columbia Gazetteer of the World | title = Aare | publisher = Columbia University Press | location = New York, NY | isbn = 0-231-11040-5 | year = 1998 }}
* {{cite book | last = Forbiger | first = Albert | title = Handbuch Der Alten Geographie | volume = 3 | publisher = Veriag von Gustav Mayer | location = Leipzig, Germany | year = 1848 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=AvwoAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA127 }}
* {{cite book | editor1-last = Gresswell | editor1-first = R. Kay | editor2-last = Huxley | editor2-first = Anthony | publisher = G. P. Putnam's Sons | location = New York, NY | year = 1965 | title = Standard Encyclopedia of the World's Rivers and Lakes }}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor-last = Hoiberg | editor-first = Dale H. | encyclopedia = Encyclopædia Britannica | title = Aare River | publisher = Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. | location = Chicago, IL | edition = 15th | isbn = 978-0-85229-961-6 | year = 2010 }}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor1-last = Kristol | editor1-first = Andres | editor2-last = Cattin | editor2-first = Florence | editor3-last = Meroni | editor3-first = Barbara | editor4-last = Schmid | editor4-first = Gabrielle | title = Aarau AG (Aarau) | encyclopedia = Lexikon der schweizerischen Gemeindenamen LSG: Dictionnaire toponymique de scommunes suisses DTS /Dizionario toponomastico dei comuni svizzeri DTS | location = Stuttgart, Germany | publisher = Huber Frauenfeld | year = 2005 | isbn = 3-7193-1308-5 | edition = 1st | language = German | trans-title = Encyclopedia of the Swiss municipality of LSG: Dictionnaire de toponymique scommunes Suisses DTS / Dizionario dei comuni toponomastico svizzeri DTS }}
==External links==
{{Commons category|Aare}}
* [http://www.aareschlucht.ch The Aare Gorge (Aareschlucht)]
*{{Wikisource-inline|list=
**{{cite EB9 |wstitle = Aar |volume= I | pages=2-3 |short=1}}
**{{Cite Nuttall|title=Aar |short=x |noicon=x}}
**{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Aar |volume= I | pages=2-3|short=x |noicon=x}}
**{{Cite Collier's|wstitle=Aar |short=x |noicon=x}}
}}
{{Rhine Tributaries}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Aare| ]]
[[Category:Rivers of Switzerland]]
[[Category:Aare basin| ]]
[[Category:Rivers of the canton of Bern]]
[[Category:Rivers of Aargau]]
[[Category:Water transport in Switzerland]]
[[Category:Rivers of the Alps]]